Solar Bears bring back Bird

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, announced the club has agreed to terms with forward Tyler Bird on acontract, re-signing for the 2023-24 season. 

Bird, 26, returns for his fifth season with the Solar Bears after racking up 34 points (16g-18a) in 70 games for Orlando during the 2022-23 campaign. His 16 goals were the third most among Solar Bear forwards and earned himself career-high marks in assists (18) and points (34). 

The Andover, Massachusetts native also appeared in his 150th game as a Solar Bear and 250th ECHL game last season, while scoring his 100th professional point on Dec. 21, 2022 against Florida and his 100th point as a Solar Bear on Feb. 17, 2023 against South Carolina. Following the conclusion of the season, Bird was honored as the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy winner – awarded to the player who displays a commitment to hard work, perseverance, and dedication – for the fourth consecutive season. 

Bird is currently second all-time in team history in goals (55), tied for third all-time in game-winning goals (8), fifth all-time in games played (217) and fifth all-time in penalty minutes (183).

He has appeared in 262 ECHL games over five seasons with Wheeling, Reading, Greenville and Orlando, scoring 119 points (58g-61a). Bird has also accumulated three assists in 13 American Hockey League games with Syracuse and San Jose. 

Prior to turning pro, Bird played four seasons of collegiate hockey for Brown University, where he recorded 35 points (22g-13a) in 120 games for the Bears program. Bird only missed four games during his NCAA career and was named an alternate captain for his senior season.

Bird was a fifth-round selection (137th overall) of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.